May 1999

Saturday 29th May 1999

As the Rangers fans celebrated the club's historic treble Dick Advocaat announced that he has agreed a two year extension to his current contract. The boss, who has completed the clean sweep in his first season will now be at Ibrox until at least 2002. Advocaat revealed: "We agreed terms for two extra years last Thursday."

Friday 28th May 1999

Rangers defender Colin Hendry will wait until Saturday morning before deciding whether he is fit enough to play against Celtic. The 33-year-old has been struggling with a groin problem that may need surgery and admitted: "It is a very difficult situation for me. I would never jeopardise the team but I am obviously very keen to play. I came back to Scotland to win prizes with Rangers. I have two at the moment and I badly want a third." Rangers 15 man squad for the Scottish Cup Final : Stefan Klos, Sergio Porrini, Colin Hendry, Tony Vidmar, Scott Wilson, Lorenzo Amoruso, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Derek McInnes, Jorg Albertz, Andrei Kanchelskis, Rod Wallace, Gabriel Amato, Neil McCann, Jonatan Johansson And Ian Ferguson

Monday 24th May 1999

Colin Hendry and Neil McCann are both doubtful for the Tennents Scottish Cup Final next weekend and may both be unavailable for Scotland's Euro 2000 matches next month. Dick Advocaat has confirmed that Hendry needs an operation for a groin problem and McCann is still suffering from a knee injury. Advocaat explained, "At this moment in time we just don't know the position because we will have to see how they react over the next few days to the match with Kilmarnock. Colin requires an operation and Neil needs a lot of rest because it has been a long season for him. We will let the doctors look at them and discuss the matter with both players before coming to a decision." Neil McCann's two goal show at Parkhead in the titanic title decider has won him the Bank of Scotland SPL player of the month award. And Neil reckons this has been the best season of his career. He said: "To win the Championship is great considering I'm still only 24 and just starting my Rangers career. This season has been my best by far. It's always nice to pick up an award, and the way things have gone at Rangers since the first day has been fantastic." The judges said: "Neil has continued to improve throughout the season both for club and country culminating in the title winning performance at Celtic Park. We were totally unanimous in our decision."

Saturday 22nd May 1999

Colin Hendry is ready for a return to the Ibrox ranks when his side round off their championship winning season at home to Kilmarnock. The influential defender, who has been frustrated by a groin problem since the festive period, has just returned from a visit to a Belgium specialist to seek advice on how to overcome the injury. Hendry underwent an examination and was told the problem was not serious and he immediately returned to the training ground to press his claims for a recall this weekend. Meanwhile, manager Dick Advocaat is not expected to make any major changes from the side that beat Motherwell so convincingly last week.

Thursday 20th May 1999

Rangers have moved to replace club doctor Professor Stewart Hillis buy signing up Dutch sports specialist Gert Jan Goudswaard on a 5 year contract. Goudswaard has spent the last 2 years working for the Dutch FA and will start a Ibrox on 1st of June. Changes will be made to th SPL's Under- 21 league from next season Roger Mitchell said: "From next season the SPL plans to play its Under 21 fixtures in a regular Monday night slot to give the league more consistency. And all the games will have to be played at SPL registered grounds.It has been our stated policy from the outset that we want to see our clubs develop youth policies which will nurture fresh Scottish talent throughout the game - because we believe that that is where the future lies."

Tuesday 18th May 1999

Rangers will play Sunderland in Ian Ferguson's Testimonial match on Wednesday 21st July at Ibrox, kick-off 7.45pm. Ally McCoist will take part in the match for Sunderland.

Monday 17th May 1999

Former Rangers and Scotland skipper Richard Gough has joined Premiership side Everton after signing a one year deal. The 37-year-old Gough joins up with Walter Smith again after completing his two month loan spell with relegated Forest. Gough's contract was held by the US MLS. Rangers are expected to complete the signing of Polish ace Dariusz Adamczuk from Dundee. The 29-year-old looked set to join Celtic just last week, with the player undergoing a medical at Celtic Park on Tuesday, however the midfielder was unhappy with the terms on offer, saying: "The length of contract was not what I was looking for, so I have decided against moving there." A host of clubs, both at home and abroad, have been monitoring Adamczuk's situation at Dens Park, with admiring eyes from the English Premiership, as well as a German side understood to be keen on recruiting the Pole's services. However, three months after making his initial enquiry, it seems Dick Advocaat is set to win the chase. The last ever European Cup-Winners Cup Final between Real Mallorca and Lazio will be played at Villa Park in Birmingham this Wednesday. Prior to the match, UEFA will pay tribute to the past winners of the competition. A player from each UEFA Cup Winners' Cup-winning side has been invited to receive a commemorative pennant from UEFA President, Lennart Johansson, and the General Secretary, Gerhard Aigner, for their contribution to the history of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Rangers will be represented by John Greig and former Rangers striker Andy Gray will represent Everton for their success in 1985.

Friday 14th May 1999

It will be business as usual for former Rangers keeper, Andy Goram, when he faces his former team tomorrow. He said: "My time at Rangers was easily the best of my career but life goes on. "I realise that and I am just glad to be back enjoying my football again. Rangers might be champions but that just makes it a bigger achievement for me when I put one over them...But when it strikes 3pm every Saturday afternoon any allegiances are thrown right out of the window, especially this Saturday. I am a Motherwell player and I have to be 100% professional." Meanwhile manager Dick Advocaat will be missing striker Rod Wallace from his first team thinking through suspension while Scott Wilson is also a doubt with a groin strain. Defensive replacement Colin Hendry is put on stand-by in case the youngster fails to recover in time. Sebastian Rozental is set to make a comeback to match fitness after spending several months on the side lines on loan to his former side Universidad Catolica in Chile. Catolica's coach Fernando Caballo said: "In the next month, Seb will be able to play football again. He is ready to show his real self. I can see his determination and desperation to play football again. He has been training with us and could now take part in the Mercosur Cup match against Boca Juniors. His comeback is a real bonus for the club." Dick Advocaat is expecting to meet with National coaches from several countries towards the end of the month to discuss releasing Rangers players for international duty. Recent reports in the press have suggested that Ozzies Tony Vidmar and Craig Moore and US captain Claudio Reyna we be asked to play for their countries in friendly matches days before one of Rangers crucial Champions League games. Advocaat confirmed that he is meeting with the USA's coach at the end of May to discuss Reyna but intimated that Australia's National Coach may want to visit Rangers too. 'I understand that they need players for World Cup games but not friendlies,' he said, 'They have to understand that we pay the players but I don't think it will be a big problem.'

Wednesday 12th May 1999

Parma star Enrico Chiesa looks for UEFA Cup final glory against Marseille tonight still adamant Rangers are the toughest team they have faced in the competition. They have seen off the best that France and Spain have had to offer in the shape of Bordeaux and Atletico Madrid. But Chiesa, who scored a penalty in the win over Rangers, said: "When I look back on our run to the final, Rangers were our most difficult opponents."

Monday 10th May 1999

Rangers chairman David Murray promised to build a side to sustain success "for a generation" after watching Dick Advocaat's men lift the Scottish Premier League trophy at Ibrox. Rangers could not deliver a win for their fans - Hearts held them to a goalless draw.But it was party time after the match as Rangers were presented with the championship trophy. And Murray is ready to fund new arrivals at Ibrox in the hope that regaining the title from arch rivals Celtic will just be the start of a successful era. "We're not building this just for one season," he vowed. "We're building it for a generation. "We've finished one era. We're starting a new era and it's not a bad start to the first year." Dick Advocaat basked in Scottish title glory and admitted he had never witnessed an atmosphere quite like Sunday night's Ibrox victory celebrations. The Dutchman applauded the fans who in turn paid tribute to him and his team as they lifted the trophy. He thanked the full house at Ibrox for their backing throughout a campaign which could yet finish with Rangers claiming a domestic treble should they defeat Celtic in the Scottish Cup final. He said: "I have not known a reception like that with 50,000 people, I was also a Champion at PSV Eindhoven but the atmosphere was great tonight and the players enjoyed it very much. "The crowd showed how proud they are in the players, last week I would say I was more emotional than this, but it was still something special." Rangers Captain Lorenzo Amoruso proclaimed last night the best of his career after he was presented with the new SPL Trophy at Ibrox. The Italian stopper commented "It's a great feeling. It's the best night of my life, football wise. To receive a Trophy like this - well, I just can't explain it. It's a good memory and I intend to keep this memory for the rest of my life. This is my first Championship Trophy and I will never forget it. All week we have celebrated this league win, but tonight was even better because we were with our own fans on our own pitch." Rangers Under 18 team won the Glasgow Cup yesterday, beating Celtic 4-0 in the final. Goals came from Peter MacDonald(2), Paul McHale and Jimmy Gibson. The team paraded the trophy at half-time during the game with Hearts yesterday.

Friday 7th May 1999

Rangers will be without Colin Hendry for Sunday's game against Hearts thanks to a reoccurrence of the injury that plagued the Scotland skipper earlier in the season. Stephane Guivarc'h is also unavailable after sustaining an injury in training and Rod Wallace is suspended following his red card last weekend. However, the rest of the squad who played against Celtic are all available for what should be a party atmosphere at Ibrox. The new SPL Trophy will be presented after the game and the Club have organised some celebrations for the fans. Rangers have announced they are to play Livingston away in a pre-season friendly on July 10th. This will be followed two days later with a visit to Love St against St Mirren before Champions League qualifying games are played on July 21st and 28th with the opening SPL fixture on Saturday July 31st.

Thursday 6th May 1999

Rangers striker Stephane Guivarc'h is convinced he has played his last game for the newly-crowned Scottish champions less than five months after first arriving at the club.Guivarc'h, who was the top scorer in France for two consecutive seasons before his summer move to St James' Park, said: "It is now very difficult because all I can do is wait for the gaffer and chairman to tell me if I am wanted." Guivarc'h was also bitterly disappointed at being left out of Sunday's game at Celtic and now he can't see any way back into the Rangers side.He added: "We have the Champions League to look forward to next season but after being left out for such an important game I don't know if I'll be involved. All I can do now is try to do well in the last few games and hopefully help Rangers win the Scottish Cup." Dutch striker Michael Mols is looking forward to playing in the Champions League next season after seeing his new club clinch the Championship against Celtic. Mols is set to complete a £4 million move to Ibrox after snubbing Sheffield Wednesday, and he's already looking ahead to next season. He said: "This is a very exciting time for me to come to the club. I was highly impressed with Neil McCann's skill, but all the Rangers players look as if they can do well in Europe.We'll be hoping to make a big impact in Europe next season." Despite seeing the ugly scenes that marred Sunday's Old Firm clash, Mols isn't having second thoughts over choosing Rangers. He added: "There were a lot of incidents in it with red cards and yellow cards. More than you get in a normal match. The referee was also hurt and that was terrible. But these things can happen in passionate derbies. They are the games everybody would love to play in."

Tuesday 4th May 1999

Rangers and Celtic may be prevented from meeting in a title decider match again following violent scenes at Sunday's game. The Scottish Premier League is considering moving the last Old Firm match of the season to an earlier slot in the year to ensure it is unlikely to be a title decider. An SPL spokesman said: 'Working in conjunction with the SFA, we will be launching a full and thorough investigation into the events at Celtic Park. This will take into account the stewarding and security arrangements, and we will be meeting with the Association of Chief Police Officers later this week to examine these issues in detail. In addition, we will be examining the conduct of players during and after the match.Consideration will also be given to moving the last Old Firm game of the season to earlier in the year to minimise the chances of the tension and emotion which spilled over on Sunday being repeated.' Antti Niemi looks poised to be the first Rangers player to depart the club this summer as manager Dick Advocaat launches the next phase of his Ibrox rebuilding programme. The Finnish international keeper has an understanding with Rangers that if the right offer comes in for him he will be able to leave to pursue his ambitions of first team football. Niemi, 26, is happy at the Glasgow club, but recognises that next season he would be third in line behind Frenchman Lionel Charbonnier and German Stefan Klos who are competing to be first choice.

Sunday 2nd May 1999

Rangers made history by sensationally beating Celtic 3-0 to win the Scottish Premier League Championship. Two goals from Neil McCann and a penalty from Jorg Albertz gave Rangers their 10th title in 11 years and ensured their passport as Scotland's representatives in next year's European Champions League. It was the first time Rangers had ever won the title at Celtic's ground and was their 100th Old Firm victory. Now they have the chance to take the Treble when they meet Celtic again in the Tennents Scottish Cup Final at Hampden on May 29. The match was incident packed with three men sent off. Celtic's Stephane Mahe was dismissed after half-an-hour, Rangers' Rod Wallace was shown the red card in the second-half and Vidar Riseth was given his marching orders near the final whistle. Referee Hugh Dallas was also struck by a missile during the first-half.